Brace attachment for curb service trays



F. S. LACK BRACE ATTACHMENT FOR CURB SERVICE TRAYS Filed Jan. 2, 1931 Jan. 23, 1934.

. ATTORNEYS such as table service.

Patented Jan. 23, 1934 BRACE ATTACHMENT FOR CURB SERVICE TRAYS Fred S. Lack, Paducah, Ky., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Tray Service Company, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application January 2, 1931. Serial No. 506,227

3 Claims.

This invention relates to curb service trays used for serving soft drinks and the like to occupants of automobiles and, among other objects, aims to provide improved brace attachments adapted to be removably and adjustably secured to a tray so as to support one end while the other end portion rests on top of a car door or on a window ledge. The invention provides an improved, relatively simple brace having provision to be connected to rectangular trays of the modern Ser-V-All type.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in the specification, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tray having an improved form of brace applied thereto; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Practically all of the curb service trays now in general use have more or less complex braces which require special means to secure them to the tray bottoms. Moreover, trays equipped with such braces are not suited for other uses In many instances, proprietors of soda fountains, lunch stands and the like have had to purchase different types or sets of trays for curb service and indoor or table service. This invention provides simple brace attachments which may be quickly applied to and removed from the trays so that the same trays may be used for all ordinary purposes. Further, it provides braces which may be collapsed under the trays so that the trays may be set on a table or counter.

In Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a brace applied to a tray which is made of steel and has a downwardly bent or rolled rim which is not reinforced. The legs 11' are made of bent strap iron and are removably secured to the bottom of the tray by U-shaped guide brackets 12 as disclosed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 476,415 filed Aug. 19, 1930.

The brace 13' is here shown as having a cushion 14' and is riveted at its upper end to the cross bar 15' having bent arms 16. The upper ends of the arms 16 are slotted and one side is bent to form a flange or projection 17 to hook over the rim of the tray. The other side portions are shorter and are offset or bent inwardly to provide tongues or fingers 18 which engage the lower side of the rim in the marginal groove. Thus, the arms and their fingers constitute extensions of the brace and afiord two-point supports. The width of the slots between the overhanging flanges or projections 17' and the fingers 18 is such that the brace may be swung to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 and the arms sprung apart slightly to disengage them from the run.

The inwardly bent flanges 17' grip the upper edge or face of the rim when the brace is adjusted and supports the weight of the tray and its contents. The tray is supported on an automobile door or window ledge in an obvious manner. However, the construction and design is greatly simplified so that the braces can be made at a much lower cost. This design is well suited for steel enameled trays whose rims do not bend as easily as the rims of aluminum trays.

It will be noted that the brace attachment is easily removable from the tray and is slidably adjustable to engage the outside of a car door. When any Weight is applied to the tray, the brace will not slip but will grip the rim of the tray firmly. It is unnecessary to provide any special securing means under the tray. Furthermore, the attachment may be folded under the tray above the legs so that the tray may beset on a table and supported level by its legs.

Obviously, the invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described.

What is claimed is:

l. A brace attachment for serving trays having legs comprising, in combination, a substantially U-shaped strap metal member having arms each presenting an inwardly bent flange to overlie and engage the rim of the tray; inwardly offset fingers on the arms adapted to engage the lower surface of the rim; and a brace secured to the U-shaped member presenting a cushion to rest against the side of an automobile door.

2. In combination with a tray, a brace which is generally T-shaped connected to the tray; and means on the opposite ends of the top of said T-shaped brace to engage it slidably and detachably with the tray at widely spaced points thereon; said means comprising a pair of projections on each end of the brace, each pair of said projections being spaced apart sufficiently to receive a portion of the tray and yet to grip the tray frictionally when the brace is extended at an acute angle to the bottom of the tray.

3. The combination with a curb service tray having means attached to the bottom thereof for hooking the tray over the edge of a vertical support, of a detachable brace having means thereily engaged and disengaged therefrom by angular shifting of the brace whereby the brace may be readily removed from the tray to permit placement of the tray on a fiat surface without interference of the brace.

FRED S. LACK. 

